How to Make a Teepee Out of Paper

Teepees are the traditional dwellings of the plains Indians. They were originally constructed of solid wooden poles covered with a tent of animal skins or birch bark. The Native Americans who lived on the great plains were nomads, and they spent much of the year traveling from place to place. They could set up or take down their teepee quickly, which enabled them to take their homes with them.

Things You'll Need

Sticks

Modeling clay

Paper bag

Scissors

Tape

Glue

Paint

Paintbrush

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Take several small sticks and lean them against one another. Tie them together at the top with some twine.

Push the bottom of the sticks into a slab of modeling clay. This will hold the tepee in place and allow you to add other elements to it, such as people or a fire if you wish.

Cut open a small brown paper bag to make a sheet. Wrap the sheet around the sticks to form a cone. Cut away any excess paper, and cut out an opening for a doorway. Temporarily tape the paper closed around the sticks.

Take a long, thin stick and put white glue on the tip. Stick it in through the doorway and dab paint where the sides of the tepee meet the support sticks. Wait for the glue to dry, then remove the tape from the outside of the tepee.

Paint designs on the teepee. You can paint animals, geometric designs or anything else that strikes your fancy.